Why is DOJ investigating Cori Bush for embezzlement?
The DoJ is investigating Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush, who has denied the allegations of misuse of public funds
Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) announced from her social media accounts on Tuesday that she was under investigation by the Department of Justice and could face charges of embezzlement. The Congresswoman has maintained her innocence and stated that no public money had been used for her own personal use and that her decision to contract her husband to provide these services does not violate any laws.
“First and foremost, I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest levels of integrity. I also believe in transparency, which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services,” reads the statement put out by Rep. Bush.
My statement on campaign spending on security services ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/35IM7tT0Eh
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 30, 2024
Con. Bush responds to allegations of financial misuse
No charges have been brought forward. Instead, officials at the Justice Department are reviewing whether Bush’s office used campaign funds to contract security services rather than public money. It is the opinion of the Congresswoman that these investigations have been instigated by “right-wing organizations [who] have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services.”
The Congresswoman has spoken very candidly about her need to contract security services because she has been the recipient of death threats since she began her campaign for Congress. Her husband, an Army veteran, has the skill set to provide these services with Con. Bush added that he has done so “at below a fair market rate.”
GOP Congressman Troy Nehls reinforced the threat that the Congresswoman lives under, saying that “if she wouldn’t be so loud all the time, maybe she wouldn’t be getting threats.”
Full quote:
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) January 31, 2024
“She doesn't even support the police. But the idea to pay her thug money to try to help protect her this and that, for what?” Nehls said. “Maybe if she wouldn't be so loud all the time, maybe she wouldn't be getting threats.”
Rep. Nehls also referred to Rep. Bush’s husband as a “thug,” leading the Missouri leader to call out his rhetoric as dangerous and racist.
.@RepTroyNehls just called my husband, a Black man and army veteran, a thug. And I’m the loud Black woman who needs to be silent in order to be safe from violence, or else?
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 31, 2024
This is the kind of rhetoric that endangers Black lives. He must apologize. https://t.co/QeqZ7yYfRX
The first term Congresswoman believes that all of these investigations will be dismissed, and she is prepared to cooperate fully with federal officials and the House Ethics Committee. The Justice Department has not made any public comments about their investigation. Rep. Bush is far from the first member of Congress to be investigated by the Department of Justice and it is not uncommon for inquiries to be settled without charges being brought forward.